All arrangements in place to welcome his holiness POPE Francis tomorrow; January 14th declared as a special holiday.

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All arrangements are in place to welcome his holiness Pope Francis tomorrow.

The Pope is scheduled to leave Rome today and will arrive at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake at 9.00 a.m. tomorrow.

A welcoming ceremony to receive the Pontiff will be conducted at the airport.

The Sri Lankan Council of Catholic Bishops will meet the Pope at the Archbishop's house in Colombo at 1.15 p.m. on the same day.

New President Maithreepala Sirisena will conduct a special meeting with the Pontiff at 5.00 p.m.at the President's House.

Pope Francis will then speak at an Inter-religious Meeting at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo at 6.15 p.m.

The Holy Mass and Canonization of Blessed Joseph Vaz will begin at 8:30 a.m. at Gall Face Green in Colombo on Wednesday.

The Pope will be taken to Madhu Church by helicopter at 2:00 p.m. and the Pope will hold a mass and deliver a speech at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary at Madhu at 3:30 p.m.

Police Media Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said a special security and traffic plan will be implemented in Colombo in preparation for the visit of Pope Francis to Sri Lanka tomorrow.

According to the SSP Rohana, traffic movement will be restricted from 7:00 a.m. to about 12:00 noon on Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Bambalapitiya Junction, Galle Road, Galle Face and Roundabout near the Presidential Secretariat for the main prayer service.

Meanwhile, The Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs has declared 14th of this month as a public and bank holiday in view of Pope’s visit.